Photographic flashlight device



June 21, 1960 A. FISCHER 2,942,100

PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASHLIGHT DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1114 'IIII'I INVENTOR. Artur F/Ischer A. m-M

June 21, 1960 A. FISCHER 2,942,100

PHQTOCRAPHIC FLASHLIGHT DEVICE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l e-l INVENTOR. Arlur Fischer States Patent r 2,942,100 PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASHLIGHT DEVICE Artur Fischer, Tnmlingen, Kreis Freudenstadt, Germany Filed Dec. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 630,880 Claims priorlty, application Germany Jan. 11, 1956 8 Claims. (Cl. 240-13 This invention relates to a flashlight device for photographic purposes having a reflector consisting of more than one part.

Such devices are known. In particular, for these devices reflectors have already been proposed consisting of several mutually movable parts and allowing of a certain reduction of the space occupied when the device is not in use. The hitherto known devices of this type have the disadvantage, however, that they have a relatively complicated and expensive construction and that the dimensions thereof, even in the collapsed condition, are not as small ,as desirable.

In order to overcome these disadvantages there is therefore proposed, according to the present invention, a flashlight device with a concave reflector having more than one part, whereby one part of said reflector is combined with the housing of the flashlight device and a further part of said reflector can be attached to the flashlight device by different sides as desired.

The device of the present invention has the important advantage that, although, when assembled in the position for use, it allows of a very good illumination of the subject to be photographed, when in the collapsed or nested condition it is reduced to exceptionally small dimensions so that the device of the invention can be carried about by the operator without inconvenience. In addition it is distinguished by an extremely simple and inexpensive construction.

Further details and advantages of the invention become obvious from the following description of two embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention in the position ready for use,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig.1,

Fig. 3 shows in section the embodiment of Fig. l in the collapsed condition,

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the device of the invention in the position ready for use, in part sectional elevation,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of parts of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a part sectional side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 is a part sectional elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 but in the collapsed condition.

Referirng to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, the flashlight device comprises a housing 1 containing the ignition current supply elements (not illustrated), for example a battery and a condenser. The concave reflector of the flashlight device consists of parts 2 and 3 of which the part 2 forms one wall of the housing land has approximately the shape of a spherical calotte. It is made in one piece with the housing 1. The reflector portion 3 has approximately the form of a frustum of a sphere and can be positioned with its seat 4 in contact with the reflector element 2 in both the position of use and the collapsed position 2,942,100 Patented June 21, 1960 of the flashlight device. The reflector element 3, which in the position of use of the device supplements the reflector element 2, see Fig. 1, can by simple removal, reversal and replacement be brought into the collapsed position shown in Fig. 3, in which it completely surrounds the housing 1. The housing 1 is shaped corresponding to the inner surface of the reflector element 3 and with the detachable rear wall 5, having a flange 6, it fills the said element 3. The reflector element 3 is preferably made of elastic plastic material so that it is a simple matter, in the collapsed position, for the reflector element 3, and especially for its flange 6 to make close contact with the housing 1. Preferably the reflector element 2 together with the housing 1, are also made of plastic. The internal surfaces of the reflector elements 2 and 3 are in this case coated with reflecting layers.

The reflector element 2 contains in this central portion a socket 7 for the flash lamps. Moreover on the unit formed by the housing 1 and the reflector element 2 is an annular groove 8 and a recess 9. These serve to accommodate a lead 10 by means of which the flashlight device can be connected to the flashlight ignition switch usually provided in the shutter of a camera and also to accommodate a coupling element 11 of lead 10. On the rear wall 5 of the housing 1 is displaceably arranged a mounting foot 12 for connecting the flashlight device to the photographic camera (not shown) which is used together with the flashlight device. When the flashlight device is not in use, the mounting foot 12 can be pushed into a recess 13 in the interior of the housing 1.

In the further embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 4-7, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts as in Figs. 1-3. i f

In this case a reflector element 2a essentially corresponds to the reflector element 2 of Figs. 1-3 but in this case it is not integral with housing 1a but can be displaced relative to the housing 1a, by means of guide elements 14, 15 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the reflector formed by the parts 2a, 3.

A flash bulb socket 7a is located on the housing 1a, while an opening 16 is provided in the central region of the reflector element 2a. A supporting base on the housing 1a is indicated by 17.

Before use of the flashlight device, the housing 1a and the reflector element 2a are displaced with respect to one another in such a manner that the opening 16 lies in front of the lamp socket 7a and thus the base of a flash bulb can be inserted through the opening 16 into the lamp socket 7a of the housing 1a, see Fig. 4. When the flashlight device is not in use, the housing 1a is displaced with respect to the reflector element 2a to such an extent that it becomes located approximately symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the reflector. The reflector element 3 is then taken ofl from the reflector element 2a, reversed and replaced with the seat 4 on the same surface of the latter, so that the housing 1a is completely encircled by the reflector element 3, see Fig. 7.

The means of attachment of the reflector element 2 or 2a to the reflector element 3 in both the position of use and collapsed position can eitherbe a push or screw fitting or preferably a bayonet joint.

Any openings of the reflector elements 2 or 2a and 3 not covered in the collapsed or nested position can be provided with covering means 18 or 19 (see Figs. 3 and 7), so that in this case it is unnecessary to provide a case for the flashlight device.

While I have herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings what may be considered typical and particularly useful embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular details described and illustrated, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is: 1 1-1. ,A photographic flashlight device comprising a housing and separate centralland outer reflector elements, the center of said'outerreflector element being cutout to form anunobstructed opening therethroughhaving an inner edge, said central reflector element being secured to said housing and incorporating an aperture adjacent said housing to permit a flash bulb to be inserted through itrsaid, central reflector element being provided with a portion adjacent the outer edge thereof substantially fitting. and inserted into said inner edge of said outer reflectorelementto connect said elements, said elements being adapted to beassembled' in one direction to form aconcave. reflector or to. be assembled in the opposite direction, 1 the overall height of saidhousing and central reflector element being not; greater than that of'said outer reflector element, and the overall lateral dimensions of saidhousing and central reflector element being less than thecorresponding inside lateral dimensions-of said outer reflector element to permit said housing and said central reflector element to be intimately nested within said outer reflector clement when the reflector elements are assembled in said opposite. direction. 7

2. A photographic flashlight device as claimed :in claim 1, in which the central reflector element has approximately theform of a calotte and the outer reflector element: has approximately the form of a spherical zone having an edge corresponding to the outer edge of said central reflector element.

3. A- photographic flashlight device as claimed in claim 1, in which the central reflector. element of the reflector isintegral with the housing.

4. A photographic flashlight device as claimed in claim 1, in which the central reflector element of the reflector is movably arranged on the housing.

5. A photographic flashlight device as claimed in claim 4, in which the lamp socket of the device is located on the housing and the central reflector element of the re flector is provided with a corresponding opening and is so displaceably mounted on the housing that the said opening can be brought front. of the lamp socket.

6. A photographic flashlight device as claimed in claim 1, in which the holusingrandtthe.centralsreflectorlelement of, the reflector are provided. with annular grooves for receiving the ignition current supply lead when said housing is nested within said.- outer reflectorielement.

7.. A photographic flashlight device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the outer contour'bfsaid h'ousing and theinner contour of said outer reflector element. are constructed and arranged to mate with each other when said housing is nested Within said outer reflector element and attached to it at said central opening.

8. A photographic flashlight deviceas claimed in -claim 1, in which they housing carries amountingstructurefor attaching the device to a camera, and the mountipg structure is extensible. for .projectingoutwardly during such attachment, and'the mounting structure is retractable for retracting it within; the confines of the nesting. space-when the reflector elements are nested. together.

References Cited in the file: of this; patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany L May :15

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